The Czech government has approved a new drug policy that will extend until the close of 2025, featuring the incorporation of a tightly controlled cannabis market.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that an expert group will soon establish the precise guidelines for the action plan, following a cabinet discussion on Wednesday.
Widely recognized as one of the most progressive nations in terms of cannabis legislation, the Czech Republic continues to lead the way.
While recreational use remains illegal, the country decriminalized cannabis possession for personal use in 2010 and introduced medical cannabis in 2013.
The Czech Republic stands out as one of the few European countries that permits the cultivation of hemp containing up to 1% THC for industrial applications.
In contrast, most EU member states have set the limit at around 0.2%, although the European Union has recently raised the allowable THC level from 0.2% to 0.3% for approved industrial hemp crops.
Considering nearly 30% of Czech adults have tried cannabis and 8% to 9% use it on a regular basis, according to the National Monitoring Center on Drugs and Addiction’s (NMS) August Addiction Report, the regulation of the recreational market seems like a logical next step for the country.
Jindřich Vobořil, the national anti-drug coordinator, has previously suggested that the effective taxation of addictive substances could generate up to CZK 15 billion in annual revenue for the state.
